Guided by the new Naming and Renaming policy (see attachment) that is reflective of the need to build cohesion in the wake of issues raised during the Fees Must Fall by creating an environment that is welcoming for all, the SRC led a series of consultations across all residences in 2017 and 2018.
Inspiring choices
As a result, names of individuals whose values, achievements and characteristics that resonate with both the students and the ethos of the Mandela brand were selected and forwarded to the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee (ACHC), and thereafter to MANCO for approval.
The SRC cogently argues that when a university is named after Nelson Mandela, it’s buildings and spaces should carry names that align with its patron. Buildings are an important aspect of a university since it is where teaching and learning takes place and institutional culture gets its legitimacy. Therefore, there is a need to transform and move beyond empty names like Building 35 or Xanadu.
And so names in line with the naming criteria of the institutional Naming Policy, which emphasise our African identity and Eastern Cape roots, the need to redress the past and build towards on a better future, have been selected.
It includes the likes of the Eastern Cape’s Sarah Baartman, whose resilience paints a painful picture of how women have been marginalised, and Lillian Ngoyi, who led the 9 August 1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the apartheid government’s pass laws.
The list also includes the revolutionary Solomon Mahlangu, who sacrificed his life for the total liberation of this country; Charlotte Maxeke, a deeply religious social worker and political activist; Hector Pieterson, whose name and tragic death is synonymous with the 1976 Soweto uprising against the compulsory use of Afrikaans; Miriam Makeba, who is fondly known as Mama Africa after bravely carrying the liberation torch in exile for many years; anti-apartheid activist Fort Calata of the Cradock Four, and intellectual Sol Plaatje, who prioritised the importance of education.
It also includes the names of two former Mandela University students, Yolanda Guma and Claude Qavane, who were both instrumental in shaping the university during their short lives.
Consultation process
The consultation process pro-actively saw the SRC visit 20 student residences on and off-campus in leading the engagement around suitable names and come to mutual agreement on names for residences that offer the opportunity to transform to a truly African institutional culture.
Residence students were integral to this process as these are the places they call home for the duration of their studies.
Staff, students and other stakeholders will follow a similar consultative process around campuses, buildings and other spaces that have relevance or significance to them.
Next communication
The next Memo will focus on the roll-out process, guiding principles and naming criteria and how you can get involved.
Naming and Renaming Working Group